A Tribute to Our Public Safety Staff and Volunteers

A Tribute to Our Public Safety Staff and Volunteers

August 17, 2016 

I had the honor of recognizing our public safety staff – police officers, dispatchers, EMS and fire – during the volunteer recognition at Party in the Park (special thanks to the Chamber of Commerce for offering the suggestion and coordinating the event). An abbreviated version of my comments are included below.  

It was an honor to be asked to speak today about some very special people who provide services to us at our most vulnerable moments…Our Firefighters, Our Emergency Medical Personnel and our Police Officers. 

It takes a very special person to want to run into burning buildings, to chase criminals with guns and to rush to auto-accidents. These are situations when every instinct in your mind and body is telling you stay away, to look away, to run away. That is what ordinary people like me do. These people, on the other hand, run toward the problem to rescue,

to protect, to save and to comfort. These folks are often called our everyday heroes. We don’t think about the sacrifice or the countless hours of training much until our moment of need. But when that moment comes – they are the biggest heroes we could imagine.

These are not jobs that are easily on the members or their families. It means missed date nights and birthday parties. It means night shifts and night calls and all the unpleasantness that comes with sleep deprivation. For spouses and children, it means the sometimes their partner or parent is upset or quiet because they are still wrestling with something they witnessed or dealt with the night before.

You will notice that I called them heroes...not superheroes. Sometimes I think we forget that. These are positions that require quick judgement in very difficult circumstances. Some people may be quick to question those decisions. But I think that is when these heroes need our support the most.

In light of recent events, I need to specifically acknowledge our police officers. Baton Rouge, Dallas, St. Paul, Baltimore all seem like faraway places. But Fennimore is right here in Grant County and what happened here as well as elsewhere in the nation has added stress to an already stressful job. They may not acknowledge it, but every officer and their family members must worry “What’s next? Am I next?” 

The issues that lie behind these incidents feel bigger than me, and most of us here. I can say how important it is that all of our law-abiding citizens have faith and trust in our police....whether old or young, black or white, student or non-student. Not even heroes can see themselves as above reproach or incapable of change.  

But let me tell you, we have a lot to be proud of with respect to our Platteville police officers. I worked with some of the best police forces in the twin cities and in many ways our department surpasses them. At one time it was unheard of to have female officers – we have 4 out of 18, one of the highest ratios I have encountered. Many departments historically and still to this day are dismissive of sexual assault issues – especially on college campuses. Our officers are actively partnering with other organizations to encourage reporting of these crimes. Body cameras? Suburban twin cities departments are "still investigating" their use. Platteville was an earlier adopter starting with eye cams and now body cameras.

This is not a department afraid of change, transparency and accountability. I am proud of them and you should be too.

I would like to ask our police officers, dispatchers, firefighters and ems personnel and their families to stand. Our community could not function without you. We are grateful for your service and sacrifice. Please join me in giving these everyday heroes the recognition they deserve.